Large label panel container carrier

Abstract

This invention relates to a package of a plurality of containers unitized with a flexible carrier. The carrier is constructed from a plastic planar sheet having a plurality of container receiving openings including corner container receiving openings and inner container receiving openings. A panel is positioned with respect to a straight longitudinal panel edge of the container receiving openings. When the containers are inserted into the container receiving openings, the panel remains flat and tight with respect to the containers. The panel is urged into a flat position with respect to the containers through a distinct spatial relationship between and among the container receiving openings.

I claim: 
     
       1. A carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: a planar sheet of a plastic material, the sheet having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks;   a corner container receiving opening of the container receiving openings located at an intersection between an outermost row of the longitudinal rows and an outermost rank of the transverse ranks, the corner container receiving opening having a first longitudinal length defined along a greatest longitudinal axis and having an outer corner in the form of a first arc having a first degree of curve;   a first longitudinal band between the corner container receiving openings;   an inner container receiving opening of the container receiving openings located in an inner rank of the transverse ranks, the inner container receiving opening having a second longitudinal length defined along a greatest longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal length shorter than the first longitudinal length and having at least one corner in the form of a second arc having a second degree of curve, the first degree of curve being greater than the second degree of curve;   a second longitudinal band between the inner container receiving openings, the second longitudinal band wider than the first longitudinal band;   a panel integrally formed with the sheet, the panel extending outward from a panel edge of the sheet and formed to lay flat with respect to the plurality of containers; and   the panel edge at least partially formed along a portion of each of the container receiving openings, the panel edge positioned in a longitudinal direction along a generally straight line.   
     
     
       2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the sheet further comprises a flap positioned in the corner container receiving opening. 
     
     
       3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein a longitudinal panel length is less than a longitudinal sheet length. 
     
     
       4. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising an end web positioned at each of two transverse edges of the sheet. 
     
     
       5. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the sheet has six container receiving openings. 
     
     
       6. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than the second longitudinal length. 
     
     
       7. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the sheet has eight container receiving openings. 
     
     
       8. The carrier of claim 7 wherein the second longitudinal length is greater than the first longitudinal length. 
     
     
       9. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a line of perforations adjacent the container receiving openings. 
     
     
       10. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising an integral handle positioned along an opposite edge from the panel edge of the sheet. 
     
     
       11. A carrier for carrying a plurality of containers in a package comprising: a planar sheet of a plastic material, the sheet having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks each container receiving opening engaging a container of the plurality of containers;   a corner container receiving opening of the container receiving openings located at an intersection between an outermost row of the longitudinal rows and an outermost rank of the transverse ranks, the corner container receiving opening having a first longitudinal length defined along a greatest longitudinal axis and an outer corner in the form of a first arc having a first degree of curve;   a first longitudinal band between corner container receiving openings;   an inner container receiving opening of the container receiving openings located in an inner rank of the transverse ranks, the inner container receiving opening having a second longitudinal length defined along a greatest longitudinal axis and at least one corner in the form of a second arc having a second degree of curve, wherein the first degree of curve is larger than the second degree of curve and the first longitudinal length is greater than the second longitudinal length;   a second longitudinal band between inner container receiving openings, the second longitudinal band wider than the first longitudinal band;   the sheet having an integral panel extending outwardly from a panel edge of the sheet and flat and smooth with respect to a side of the package, the integral panel having an overall longitudinal panel length less than an overall longitudinal sheet length; and   the panel edge at least partially formed along a portion of each of the container receiving openings, the panel edge positioned in a longitudinal direction, along a generally straight line.   
     
     
       12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein the sheet further comprises a flap positioned in the corner container receiving opening. 
     
     
       13. The carrier of claim 11 further comprising an end web positioned at each of two transverse edges of the sheet.